Thursday, Jul. 02, 2009

Pasco middle schoolers have colorful classes

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

PASCO -- Dozens of middle school girls spent Wednesday morning marching in place and spinning bright yellow, orange and blue flags in unison under the hot sun.

The band students they'll perform with this weekend were having their own rehearsal elsewhere, so the girls' coach kept the beat by clapping her hands and calling out directions in time.

"Down, up, down, up, down and up!" Loralee Newbury shouted.

The girls twirled the flags, creating waves of color.

They looked like experts, but until last week some of them had never even held a flag.

They're learning about color guard through Pasco School District's summer music program, which also offers band, guitar, choir and strings instruction.

"It's fun because we get to go over our routines," said Aaliyah Vargas, 11.

More than 300 middle schoolers signed up for the five-week program, which meets at Emerson Elementary School. It's run by school district staff and volunteers.

While the color guard practiced in a roped off section of the parking lot Wednesday, the guitar students gathered under a shady tree and strummed. Inside the school, horns and other band instruments could be heard.

Students said they're excited to be in the program.

"I like how we know we're improving," said Kalee Madison, 11, who's in the color guard.

She and her teammates spent the morning working out the kinks in their routine. They're on a deadline because the color guard and band will perform in Saturday's Grand Old Fourth Parade in Pasco.

Some of the girls said they're nervous. But gaining self-confidence and learning the value of teamwork is a big part of the summer program, said Russ Newbury, the district's visual and performing arts facilitator.

He said the arts provide an avenue for students to feel connected to school, which is an important factor in student retention and academic success.

"It's preparing them for whatever activities they seek out in the future," Russ Newbury said.

He's grateful district leaders have remained committed to the program even in the midst of state cuts to K-12 funding, he said. The program is free to students, with transportation and lunch included.

Some of the kids come to the program with enough skills to play an instrument or spin a flag. Others are beginners. There will be a concert at the end of the five weeks where the students get to show how much they've learned.

For Alyx Olivera, 11, getting to spin flags and perform with her friends is a dream come true. She's always loved watching the Pasco High squad perform during halftime of football games, she said.

"They had cool outfits and cool colored flags," she said.

Cassandra Muniz, 11, said she signed up for color guard because she didn't want to sit at home all summer feeling bored. It's been a lot of work learning the steps and motions, but it's also been a lot of fun, she said.

Through the program "you (get) to try something that you've never tried before," she said.